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Prince enjoys talks with Tassie farmers

David Beniuk

The Prince of Wales has spent some quality farmer-to-farmer time with a Tasmanian family at their sheep stud near Hobart.

Prince Charles stood deep in conversation with sheep farmer Brent Thornbury inspecting a flock at the Leenavale stud at Sorell, before heading to the shearing sheds to demonstrate his prowess in throwing a fleece.

The prince stood in a pen and asked the assembled media to move so the sheep wouldn't get scared, and he didn't flinch as sheepdog Zip bounded on and off their backs.

Charles made the visit in his role as patron of the Campaign For Wool, an initiative aimed at boosting wool prices among the British Commonwealth's producers.

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Mr Thornbury, a fourth-generation woolgrower on the property, said the prince's knowledge was impressive.

"He was very laid back and interested in what we do," he said.

The prince wore a specially chosen woollen suit for the occasion and later in the day, highlighted his campaign in a brief speech at a reception hosted by Premier Lara Giddings.

"One of the things I wanted to try and highlight today was the importance of wool as a natural fibre, and to remind people of its importance and the importance of the growers and indeed of wool to the whole economy here in Australia," he said.

The CEO of Australian Wool Innovation, Stuart McCullough, said the prince's campaign, launched two years ago, was making a difference after the global financial crisis (GFC).

"It's a big deal," Mr McCullough said.

"We think that imagery will go internationally and again serves to profile wool."

Charles' visit to Leenavale came amid a busy five-hour stopover in the island state with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The couple began with a stroll through the convict-built town of Richmond, 20 kilometres east of Hobart, where thousands lined the streets in the best weather of the day.

By the time they reached Hobart's Salamanca Place the rain had set in, forcing the duchess indoors, but the prince braved the weather to the delight of the hundreds of hardy souls who'd turned out.

At the reception, on the Hobart waterfront, the prince apologised for his rushed visit.

On learning he shared a birthday with Ms Giddings, who turns 40 next week, he quipped: "It just shows that you can't do without Scorpios."